Air cleaner



Aug. 23, 1932. ALTGELT 1,873,252

AIR CLEANER F iled Feb. 16. 1928 I. lllllllllllllilliiii q i 1 5 j Patented Aug. 23, 1932 PATENT oFFicE UNITED STATES HERMAN nnmenm, or SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T oLIv'ER FARM EQUIPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE AIR CLEANER Application-filed February 16, 1928. Serial No. 254,665.

This invention relates to air cleaners and more particularly to a type which is adapted to be used in connectionwith cleaning air for supplying the same to the carburetor of internal combustion engines of tractors;

One of the objects of the present invention is' to provide an improved, simplified and compact air cleaner which is adapted to be mounted in aaposition relative to the motor W so that the air passing therethro'ugh will be heated toa considerableextent by reason of its position with respect to the motor or enine.

g Anotherobject of the invention'is to provide a new and, improved form of air cleaning device which,.by reason of its location with respectto the engine fan is positioned so that the .air drawn therethrough contains a minimum amountof dirt and dust 29 particles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simpleandimprovedform of air cleaner which is mounted in the hood of the tractor and concealed from view thereby eliminating the unsightly appearance which is common with the present form of air cleaners now used on tractors. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved form of air cleaner in combination with. a deflector which is positioned adjacent the openings through which the air passes into the cleaner, for preventing dust and dirt particles from passing therethrough,

A further object of the invention is to'provide in combination with an air cleaner, a novel construction of an overflow and drain system wherebythe liquid in the cleaner container may be maintained orentirely drained therefrom. r

These and, other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and'an arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fra mentary sidejelevational view of a conventional form of tractor showing my improved air cleaner mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional View of a portion of the hood of the tractor showing the manner in which my improved air cleaner is mounted thereon. V Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4: is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the lines H in Fig. 3. y

In illustrating one embodiment of my invention I have shown thesame in connection with a fragmentary portion of the conventional form of a tractor which comprisesthe usual internal combustion motor 10, radiator 11, and intake manifold 12, having a conventional form of carburetor 13, connected therewith. Rotatably mounted on the motor adjacent the radiator 11 is the usual form of engine fan 14. Secured to the upper portion of the radiator and extending rearwardly with respect thereto is a curved hood 15, which is best shown in cross-section in Fig. 2. Mounted on the under side of the hood and directly above the rear end of the motor or engine 10, is an air cleaner housing 15, which is preferably though not necessarily, circular in form. The upper edge of the housing member 15" is provided with anoutwardly projecting flange 16 which conforms to the curvature of the hood for securing the cleaner housing 15 to the hood in any well known manner. The cleaner housing prop er comprises a circular wall l7'and a bottom 18. The bottom 18 is pr-eferably inset with respect to the lower edge of the wall for-the purpose of reinforcing and strengthening the housing. Mounted within the housing, across the forward end thereof, is an inclined depending partition wall 19, which is providforms a means for securing the partition wall to the under side of the hood. The outer edges of this partition wall are bent angularly and laterally as shown at 21.;to conform with the inner curvature of the housing 15 for the purpose of securing the same thereto. The lower end of this partition wall. stops short of the bottom and is provided with a plurality of circular openings as shown at 22, adjacent the lower end, as clearly shown in Figures v2 and 3. Mounted in the bottom of the cleaner housed with an upper flange as shown at 20, which ing is a screen of coarse wire mesh 23, which is provided with a plurality of depending legs 24, which rests on the bottom of the housing for supporting the screen in spaced relation from the bottom thereof. The screen 23, together with the partition wall 19, forms a compartment, in which is mounted air cleaning fibrous material such as sisal, hemp, hair or steel wool. Mounted forwardly of the cleaner housing 15 and secured to the'under sideof the hood '15, is an arcuate deflector wall 26 which is inclined rearwardly. This wall is for the purpose of deflecting and preventing the heavier dirt or dust particles from'enterin-g the air cleaner. Formed on the forward upper portion of the circular wall of the housing are three elongated apertures 27, through which the air enters into the cleaner housing.

Extending through the'bottom 18 of the cleanerhousing 1'5 and through the wire mesh 23, and alsothrough an opening 28 in the hood 15, is a tube or pipe 29 which has its lower end'thereof connected by a conduit 30 to thecarburetor 13. The opened or free end of this tube 29 extends above the top orthe hood and is encased by an enlarged dome shaped member 31. This dome-shaped member is provided with an annular flange 32, by means of which, the same is secured to the top of the hood in any well xnown manner. Surrounding the tube 29 and between the vertical walls of the domeshap ed member 31 and extending through the hood 15 are a plurality of apertures 29', through which the cleaned air passes in its travel to the tube 29, Positioned adjacent the partition wall 19 is a; threaded cap 33 which is mounted in threaded engagement with a collar 33, secured in an opening in the hood 15. VVhenever it is-necessary to place liquid such as oil in the air cleaner, the cap screw is removed andthe oil may beinserted through this opening. Through this opening the material 25 maybe removed or inserted.

In connection with my improved form of air cleaner I have provided anovel arrangement of a liquid overflow and drain system which comprises a drain pipe 34, located at one side of the bottom 18 of the cleaner housing 15. This drain pipe 34 has its upper end flush with the bottom for draining off the oil. This drain pipe 34 is connected by suitable connections 35 and an elbow 36, to an overflow pipe 37 located in the center of the bottom 18 of the cleaner housing. This overflow pipe 37 extends to a point as shown at 38, above the bottom of the housing so that a predetermined amount of oil is re tained in the cleaner and any amount in excess of the required amount will be drained oil through the overflow pipe. The drain ,pipe 34 and the overflow pipe connections are connected together with a conventional form of three-way valve 39. This three-way valve is connected by suitable downwardly extending drain tube for discharging the oil at a point below the tractor so that none of the oil will be splashed on the parts of the tractor. The three-way valve 39 may be adjusted so that either the overflow pipe or the drain may be separately opened to the drain tube 40; or the valve maybe adjusted so that the overflow pipe 37 is always opened to thedrain tube 40 with the drain pipe '31 .closed. The valve may beadjusted so that the drain pipe 34 and the overflow 37 are both closedto the drain tube 40.

This construction of an overflow and drain ,system permits the operator to maintain a to change or drain the oil, the valve may 00 be adjusted so that the drain pipe 34 is opened to the drain tube 40 and the entire amount of oil withdrawn.

From the above description, it will be seen that by positioning the cleaner or the air entrance of the cleaner over the engine or motor 10, the air passing thereinto will be heated to a considerable extent before being supplied to the cleaner and it will be further noted that by positioning the air entrance of the cleaner in a direct line with a current of air being deflected rearwardly by the engine fan 14, that the larger particles of dust and dirt will be deflected laterally byreason of the centrifugal action of the fan in such a manner that the air entering the cleaner is freer from dust and dirt particles at this point than at any other point of the tractor. It will be further noted that by providing the deflecting wall 26 adjacent the air entrance to the cleaner that should any large particles of dust or dirt be directed toward the entrance of the cleaner, the same will be deflected by this wall.

In the operation of my improved cleaner,

let us assume that oil is placed in the bottom of the cleaner housing to an elevation equal in height to that of the overflow pipe 37 and that when the engine is operating, the air is directed rearwardly by the action of the engine fan which eliminates the dirt and dust particles by a centrifugal action. As the air moves over the top of the engine, it becomes heated to a considerable extent there'- by increasing the eflicient operation of the engine. This heated air is directed underneath the deflecting wall 26 and upwardly through the elongated slots 27 in the housing 15 of the cleaner, from where it is directed downwardly through the openings 22 in the no partition wall 19, thence through the oil saturated cleaning material 25, upwardly vthrough the apertures 29' surrounding the tube 29 in the hood 15. From here, the air passes into the upper end of the tube 29, thence through the conduit 30- to the carburetor.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course, be understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine of a tractor, comprising a housing, a depending wall mounted in said housing forming two compartments therein, cleaning material mounted in one of said compartments and supported in spaced relation with respect to the bottom of said housing, there being an aperture in the forward side of said housing through which the air enters and a tubular connection extending entirely through said housing, and communicating therewith for forming the exit for the air from said housing.

2. An air cleaner for an internal comb-ustion engine comprising a housing secured to the under side of the'hood of said engine, there being an aperture formed on one side of said housing, a vertically depending wall secured to said hood having its lower end terminating short of the bottom of said housing, a wire support mounted in saidhousing and having cleaning material mounted thereon and an air exit comprising a tubular member xtending into said housing and having its upper end extending above said housing and communicating therewith.

3. An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine comprising a housing, secured to the under side of the hood of said engine, there being a plurality of elongated openings through the forward side of said'housing, a partition wall mounted in said housing having a plurality of apertures therein, said partition wall having its lower end spaced from the bottom of said housing, a wire support mounted on the bottom of said housing and located on one side of said partition wall, said support having cleaning mate-rial mounted thereon and a tubular connection extending through the bottom of said housing to a point above said hood, said connection communicating with said housing through which the air is discharged from said cleaner.

4. An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine comprising a housing secured to the under side of the hood of said engine, a depending wall mounted in said housing and dividing the same into two compartments,

said dividing wall havingapertures therein for the passage of air therethrough, cleaning material mounted in one of said compartments and held in spaced relation with respect to the bottom of said housing, there being apertures in one side of said housing through which the air enters said housing, a tubular connection extending into said housing and through said hood, said hood having apertures therein for placing the upper end of said connection in communication with the interior of saidhousing and a cover member extending over the upper end of said connection and surrounding the apertures in said hood. 1

5. An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine comprising a housing secured to the under side of the hood of said engine and having openings at one side thereof and permitting the air to enter said housing, a depending wall forming substantially two comp'artments having openings therein for permitting the air .to pass therethrough, a wire tray mounted in the bottom of said housing for supporting cleaning material thereon in spaced relation with respect to said bottom, a tubular connection extending through said housing and through said hood and means for establishing communication with the upper end of said tubular connection and said housing.

6. An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine comprising a casing in which a portion thereof is formed by a portion of the hood of said engine, a screen mounted in the bottom of said'casing and held in spaced relation with respect to said bottom, air cleaning material mounted on said screen whereby the liquid in said container is splashed back and forth in said cleaner for cleaning the dust and dirt particles from said cleaning material.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 10th day of February, A. D. 1928.

HERMAN E. ALTGELT. 

